Yesterday was gorgeous and we had a fun day- the annual “Ferry Festa” - a street fair where our downtown is closed off to traffic - the hound had a particularly good time, meeting dozens of new dogs, getting blessed by the Episcopal priest, and finding food on the ground. When she was good and exhausted, we went home, fed her, and then hiked over hill to some neighbors for dinner.
We were greeted with the NV Rimarts “18” Brut Reserva Cava. Crisp, appley, light, nothing complex but nicely refreshing on a warm fall day. B
Dinner was romescada (Catalan lobster,clam, and shrimp stew in romesco style sauce) and salad. Multiple wines were tried:
2011 Wind Gap “Windsor Oaks” Pinot Gris
I guess skin-contact, this is a dark gold with a reddish tint. Very floral on nose, full, red fruits and spice, a honied note (but dry). B+
2013 (I think) CVNE “Monopole” Rioja blanco
Not familiar with this bottling, but this is a nice inexpensive white Rioja. Fresh, cocconut/oak, waxy, good length. I’ll get some of this. B+/B
2001 La Rioja Alta “904” Rioja Gran Reserva
Lovely showing, black cherries accented by tobacco, cedar, and spice. Bright acids, medium bodied, long. A-
2005 Puy Guilhem (Fronsac)
Tannic, black plum fruit, not very long, maybe needs time but tannins might outlast fruit. B-/C+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.